Combined salt and pepper shaker



Dec. 1 1925.

F. s. O'BRIEN COMBINED SALT AND PEPPER SHAKER mm Oct. 24. 1921 .22 FM A F/orrence 5 0 'B/v'en- Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES FLORRENCE S. OBRIEN, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

COMBINED SALT AND PEPPER SHAKER.

Applicationfiled October 24, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that I, FLonnnNcE S. OBRIEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combined Salt and Pepper Shakers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to salt and pepper shakers and has for its object to provide a single container in which both salt and pepper may be contained at the same time.

Another object is to provide means for simultaneously regulating the amount of either the salt or pepper discharged from the shaker.

Another object is to provide means for increasing the amount of pepper discharged as the salt is decreased and vice versa.

A still further object is to provide means for preventing the escape of ingredients within the container through openings other than those intended for the purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a movable partition within the shaker adapted to divide the interior thereof into two compartments.

Another objectis to form the closure cap with a member adapted to engage said partition as the device is applied so as to rotate the partition with the said cap and so hold the same in proper relation thereto regardless of the position of the cap and the container.

Another object is to provide a number of openings on either side arranged in crescent shaped formation, and a closure member adapted to swing from one side to the other to close either of said sets of openings.

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear in connection with the detailed description thereof and are'particularly pointed out in the claims In the drawings, illustrating theapplication of my invention in one form Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom View of the cap used in connection with my salt and pepper shaker.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View of the cap and a portion of the salt and pepper shaker shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figure 1 showing another form of the invention. 7

Serial No. 509,856.

Fig. is a view similar to Figure 4 taken at right angles thereto.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, I have shown an ordinary form of salt and pepper shaker 10 which may be of glass pewter, or any other suitable material and which forms a container for the ingredients to be placed within the same. This container is formed with a straight uniform cylindrical bore 11 which extends throughout the length of the same. Within the interior of the container 10 is positioned a vertical partition 12 which snugly fits within the bore 11 and extends flush with the top 13 of container 10 as indicated at 14 in Figure 1 so that the whole container and partition terminate in a flat surface. The partition 12 is preferably constructed out of cork or some other absorbent material which when the salt is placed within the container serves to absorb some of the moisture from the salt and cause the same to flow freely. Although I have found. cork to work very satisfactory other substances may be used in place thereof which operate in a similar manner. With this construction two semi-cylindrical compartments 15 and 1-6 are provided in which the salt and pepper may be placed when the cap is removed from the container 10.

The cap for closing the opening in container 10 is indicated in its entirety at 17 and comprises a planular top portion 18 and a flanged portion 19 which is threaded at 20 as to screw upon threads 21 formed on the neck 22 positioned on the upper portion of container 10. The planular portion 18 of cap 17 is provided with a plurality of openings 23 on one side and a similar set of openings 24 on the other side, which openings are arranged in the shape of a crescent and are positioned to register with the openings in container 10 leading to the compartments 15 and 1 6. This arrangement of the holes gives a more uniform distribution of the ingredients when the shaker is used. If both sets of the openings 23 and 2a are uncovered, both salt and pepper may be shaken from the shaker at one time.

The device for regulating the amounts of the ingredients discharged through the cap 17 consists of a plate 25 which is'pivoted by means of a rivet 26 to one side of the plannlar portion 18 of said cap. This plate is completely cover either sets of the holes 23.

and 24 or to partially cover both of them. By varying the position of the said plate the respective number of holes uncovered on each side may be varied at will so that the exact proportion of the ingredients discharged will be changed to suit the requirements.

To prevent the ingredients from discharg ing through the slot I form the interior of the cap 17 with an annular shoulder 31 extending around the same, which shoulder is of the same thickness as the plate 25 and fits upon the upper surface 13 of container 10. This shoulder is cut away at 32 to permit the lever 29 to extend outwardly through cap 17. In said shouldersare formed two notches 33 and 3a which are provided with arcuate surfaces 35 being discribed about the pivot 26 as a center. These surfaces are adapted to cooperate with an arcuate surface 36 formed on two lugs 37 and 38 issuing outwardly fromthe plate member 25. When the device is in a position indicated in Figure 2 the extreme end of lug 37 engages the beginning ofthe arcuate surface 35 while the remainder of the surface 36 is in contact with the surface 35 of notch 34. As the plate 25 is oscillatedsurfaces 35. and 36 are constantly in engagement. After the cap has been screwed down, the surface 13 of the container 10 covers the opening 32 in shoulder 31 so that the slot 30 is completely closed from the interior of the container thereby preventing the passage of any of the ingredients outwardly through said slot.

In order to have the partition 12 positioned properly relative to the openings 23 and 24 in the cap 17, I provide the said cap with a. downwardly depending lug 37 which is adapted to engage the upper por tion of the partition 12 near the edge thereof so that as the said cap is screwed down, said lug engages the said partition and causes the same to rotate. In this manner the partition 12 is constantly held in the proper relation to the said cap so that proper ingredients are at all times discharged through the respective openings 23 and 2 1. r

In Figures 1 and 5 I have shown a modification of the invention in which the cap 17 is formed without the flange 1,9 indi cated in the other form. In placeof the same I provide a threaded sleeve 40 which has an inwardly turned flange 41 adapted to ride upon the outer periphery of a flange 12 formed on said cap below the slot 30 through which the lever 29 passes. In-this construction the partition 12 is made to project above the upper surface 13 of container 11 as indicated at in Figure 5 so that the two compartments 15 and 16 are still separated from one another. In using this device the planular portion 18 which is formed with a pair of downwardly depending lugs 43 and 4 1. is placed directly over the partition 12. with the lugs" 13 and 141 straddling the partition. Sleeve 10 is then screwed in place upon cap 17 ways used is eliminated thereby savinig time The device is very e ective. in operation and does not easily get outof'.

and annoyance.

order.

In accordance with the patent statutes I;

have described the principles of operation of my invention together with, the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof but I desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and that, the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims: 7

I claim 1. A combined salt and pepper. shaker comprising a receptacle having twojc'ompartments, a cap mounted, on said receptacle, an iinperforate plate pivoted'to said cap at one end thereof, said plate having arcuate portions of a radius substantially equal to that of the cap, and being adapted to swing from one side .of the periphery of said cap to the other, andholes in said cap arranged on both sides of said plate along the periphery thereof .in crescent shaped formation to communicate separately with said compartments. 2

2. A combined salt and pepper shaker comprising a receptacle,'a cap mounted on said receptacle, said cap having a planular top, a plate having arcuate portions pivoted to said cap near the periphery thereof, a slot in said cap, a lever issuing outwardly from said plate and passing through said slot for oscillating the plate, apartition in said receptacle forming two compartments, sets of openings' formed in said cap positioned on each of the arcuateportions thereof and arranged in crescent shaped formation, a shoulder issuing'outa The device is extremely simple andv wardly from said cap of a de th the same as said plate extending aroun the periphcry of the same, notches formed in said shoulder having arcuate surfaces described about the pivot of said plate as a center, lugs formed on said plate having arcuate surfaces adapted to cooperate with said ar- In testimony whereof I aflix my signa ture.

FLORRENGE S. OBRIEN. 

